The Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment™ LA is the first of many “Fight Clubs of Design” to take place outside of the immediate Detroit area. The growth of the event from a small local party spread through word of mouth to the current version with tunes and vibe “imported from Detroit” is largely thanks to great partners like BASF.

The team at BASF never hesitated about coming on board, supporting the design community and giving up-and-coming design talent the chance to showcase their skills in front of important industry decision makers. The fact that the party is a fun diversion from the seriousness of the industry we all work in and the competition is exciting to watch is just a wonderful bonus.

In the lobby of the Petersen, you will find the custom 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R that was introduced earlier this month at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. Finished in BASF’s first-ever “Color of the Year”, Reflexion Nebula, the color transitions from blue to gray depending on the viewer’s vantage point. The inspiration was based on current color trends and highlights BASF’s competency as a leader in color design, coatings and chemistry for the automotive industry.

“Our design team predicts a stronger presence of blue shades that offer versatility and broad appeal in the automotive space,” said Paul Czornij, Head of Design for BASF’s Color Excellence Group. “This is apparent in Reflexion Nebula, with its dynamic and scintillating look that is both playful and sophisticated.”

Brian Martin, owner of the custom body shop Phantasy Kolors in Snohomish, Washington, has been involved in custom paint and body work for more than 16 years. While he was restoring a custom 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R for its SEMA debut, BASF approached him and shared the “Color of the Year.” To see more about the build click this video link.

“We were pleased to be invited to partner with BASF for their Color of the Year announcement,” says Martin. “The color conveys the enthusiasm and movement at SEMA and we felt this color would help capture the audience’s attention and draw them into our vehicle.” Paul Czornij, head of design for BASF’s Color Excellence Group, believes that the color blue exudes honesty, reliability and self-expression. For those reasons, he feels that blue will continue to be a prominent color influencing the future of automotive design. “It’s been great working with Brian and Phantasy Kolors to bring the Color of the Year to life,” says Czornij. “The best way to show off a beautiful color is on a beautiful car.” To see what BASF featured at SEMA visit basfrefinish.com/SEMA2016

Come back tomorrow to learn more about the activities at the Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment™ LA and check out these other posts:

And don’t forget to buy tickets in advance

We expect a rather long line at the event and having your tickets in advance will shorten your queue time. Also don’t forget we support students with deeply discounted advance tickets – where else will you get to see Bugattis and BMW Art Cars up close and personal?

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has nearly 17,500 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.4 billion in 2015. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 112,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of more than €70 billion in 2015. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information at www.basf.com.

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About Frank Schwartz

Frank Schwartz is the founder of CarFriend.me and Advanced Automotive Consulting Services, partner in The Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment and serial entrepeneur. A long time automotive enthusiast, Frank started reading car magazines at the age of 8 and has spent 30+ years working inside the automotive industry. In his spare time Frank races with the Sports Car Club of America, spends time working on his numerous project cars and supports many local charities.